The choice of an optimal strategy of stem cell culture is at
the moment an impossible task, and the elaboration of a
culture medium adapted to the production of embryonic and
adult mesenchymal stem cells for the clinical application of
cell therapy remains a crucial matter. To make an informed
choice, it is crucial to not underestimate the theoretical
health risk of using xenogenic compounds, to limit the immunological
reactions once stem cells are transplanted, to
not overestimate the controversial results obtained with human
serum, plasma, and blood derivatives, as well as to
carefully examine the pros and cons of serum-free and ad
hoc formulation strategies; besides that, to also maintain
multipotentiality, self-renewal, and transplantability. The extent to which we are able to achieve effective cell therapies
will depend on assimilating a rapidly developing base of
scientific knowledge with the practical considerations of
design, delivery, and host response. Although clinical studies
have already started, many questions remain unsolved, and
concomitantly even more evidence on suitable and safe offthe-
shelf products (mainly xeno-free) for embryonic and
mesenchymal stem cells is cropping up, even though there
should be no rush to enter the clinical stage while the
underlying basic research is still not so solid; this solely will
lead to high-quality translational research, without making
blunders stemming from the assumption that all that glitters
is not gold.

The choice of an optimal strategy of stem cell culture is at
the moment an impossible task, and the elaboration of a
culture medium adapted to the production of embryonic and
adult mesenchymal stem cells for the clinical application of
cell therapy remains a crucial matter. To make an informed
choice, it is crucial to not underestimate the theoretical
health risk of using xenogenic compounds, to limit the immunological
reactions once stem cells are transplanted, to
not overestimate the controversial results obtained with human
serum, plasma, and blood derivatives, as well as to
carefully examine the pros and cons of serum-free and ad
hoc formulation strategies; besides that, to also maintain
multipotentiality, self-renewal, and transplantability. The extent to which we are able to achieve effective cell therapies
will depend on assimilating a rapidly developing base of
scientific knowledge with the practical considerations of
design, delivery, and host response. Although clinical studies
have already started, many questions remain unsolved, and
concomitantly even more evidence on suitable and safe offthe-
shelf products (mainly xeno-free) for embryonic and
mesenchymal stem cells is cropping up, even though there
should be no rush to enter the clinical stage while the
underlying basic research is still not so solid; this solely will
lead to high-quality translational research, without making
blunders stemming from the assumption that all that glitters
is not gold.